Free Coffee Frenzy

Most people love to get coffee. What they love more is getting free coffee. And nothing proved this more that the long wait for free coffee being handed out at Dutch Bros. third location that had its grand opening along the Esplanade. Chico Police had to redirect the backup of cars along W. 8th Ave from everyone wanting their free coffee. What was going to be a simple stand alone photo turned into a chance to shoot video of the overwhelming, but controlled event.

People and cars line up for a long wait as Dutch Bros. Coffee gave free coffee for everyone all day at its grand opening for its third location at 1733 Esplanade Friday, March 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

People and cars line up as Dutch Bros. Coffee gave free coffee for everyone all day at its grand opening for its third location at 1733 Esplanade Friday, March 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Dutch Bros. employee Marissa Duch serves people and cars that line up as Dutch Bros. Coffee gave free coffee for everyone all day at its grand opening for its third location at 1733 Esplanade Friday, March 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Cars back up around an alleyway along W. 8th St. as people and cars wait for Dutch Bros. Coffee that gave free coffee for everyone all day at its grand opening for its third location at 1733 Esplanade Friday, March 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Robbery Goes Wild

A simple shoplifting incident at Walmart turned into a wild scene as the suspect fled threatening with a weapon. While there was no weapon seen, a Chico Police officer spotted the suspect's vehicle nearby. Officer Frank Deshler approached the vehicle as was struck while the suspect was fleeing the scene. Deshler called for backup as he broke the driver side window. Cops swarm the nearby area in search of the suspect who had fled the scene. Other individuals in another parking lot were detained but turned out to not be the suspect.

We didn't here anything about the shoplift until scanner traffic detailed a potential pursuit. I headed out only to find Chico Police talking over the incident.

It quickly turned from a simple crime into a much more intense scene. Luckily there was no major incident, and police were able to pick up the suspect at a motel.

Chico Police officer Frank Deshler (left) talks about his injuries he received from a fleeing suspect to Police Chief Mike Maloney (center) and officer Ryon Mitchell (right) Thursday, March 24, 2011 in Chico, Calif. A suspect, a white male adult, shoplifted from Walmart when Deshler spotted the vehicle, a 1988 white Ford Festiva in the Toys'rus parking lot. Deshler approached the vehicle on foot, when the suspect used his car to assault Deshler. Deshler sustained cuts and bruises and knocked out the driver side window as the suspect was last seen fleeing eastbound on E. 20th St.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police officers secure the area around the Skypark Plaza in search for a suspect earlier involved in a robbery and officer assault Thursday, March 24, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Windy Weather Whips Chico

Spring time is usually a short duration here in Chico, but this Spring has pretty much felt like a cold winter. The temperatures have been low and recent storms have caused havoc to the area. It is always interesting that when the storms come, people are told to stay inside, except for me, who is told to go outside and photograph it. It is always important to dress warm and dry weatherproofing not only your gear, but yourself as well.

Chanthavy May, 24 (left) and Zoua Vang, 23 (right) carry umbrellas to deal with the heavy rain waters and stormy wind hit the CSUC campus Thursday, March 24, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The rising river waters of the Sacramento River seen from Irving Finch boat launch as heavy rain and stormy wind hit the area Thursday, March 24, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bryan Weinmeister, of Chico, takes a look at the rising river waters of the Sacramento River at Irving Finch boat launch as heavy rain and stormy wind hit the area Thursday, March 24, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Danny Marone, of Stott Advertising, (right) looks at their damaged billboard along Mangrove Ave near 7th Ave due to the strong wind and heavy rain that hit the area Thursday, March 24, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Tipped over trash bins near E. 8th Ave and Spruce Ave by heavy rain waters and stormy wind hit the area Thursday, March 24, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Family Seeks Answers and Help

Dominic is a young 19 month old boy that looks and acts like any other 19 month old. But Dominic deals with a rare skin disease that his parents are looking for help in curing. The disease is called mastocytosis, and it causes Dominic's skin to blister along with nausea and vomiting. His parents are looking to raise money in order to travel to the National Institute of Health in Maryland. They are searching for answers and treatment to the condition.

Dominic Rodriguez, 19 month old (left) pushes his toy car like any other kid his age, yet he deals with a rare skin disease called mastocytosis Tuesday, March 22, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Michele Rodriguez talks about her 19 month old son Dominic Rodriguez skin disease mastocytosis in their home Tuesday, March 22, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Michele Rodriguez (center) and Ricardo Rodriguez (right) talk about their 19 month old son Dominic Rodriguez (left) and his rare skin disease mastocytosis in their home Tuesday, March 22, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Fiddler's Find Fun in Competition

We have great talent in our community. It is most impressive to see young kids pick up instruments and play great music at such a young age. Oroville hosted the Fiddle and Picking Championships this last week. Photos don't do the competition justice. It is something to hear the music from the young performers. I was able to shoot some video to accompany the story and it really added to the mix.

Patrica Garrett, 8, plays the fiddle in the 45th annual California State Old Time Open Fiddle & Picking Championships at Oroville Municipal Auditorium Saturday , March 19, 2011 in Oroville, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Orland Loves to Volunteer

The city of Orland celebrated 100 years of its volunteer firefighters service. They held a parade with plenty of excitement despite the cold and wet weather. It wasn't probably the most optimal time for a parade, but it was truly a great celebration of people.

Kristi Stephenson wears a decorative hat as the community of Orland celebrate 100 years of volunteer firefighting service with a parade winding through town to the Glenn County Fairgrounds Saturday , March 19, 2011 in Orland, Calif. Old and new engines from Orland and nearby communities will take part.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Tim Kraemer was a "Fire Chief in Training" in the parade as the community of Orland celebrate 100 years of volunteer firefighting service with a parade winding through town to the Glenn County Fairgrounds Saturday , March 19, 2011 in Orland, Calif. Old and new engines from Orland and nearby communities will take part.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A 1894 Ladder Cart is wheeled by Orland Fire 2nd assistant Ron Goings (left), 1st Assistant Lonnie St. Louis (right) and other volunteer firefighters as the community of Orland celebrate 100 years of volunteer firefighting service with a parade winding through town to the Glenn County Fairgrounds Saturday , March 19, 2011 in Orland, Calif. Old and new engines from Orland and nearby communities will take part.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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After Being Shaken, It's Good to Be Hugged

The recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis that Japan has felt in recent weeks at time can seem a very distant event with no local angle. But the impact of Japan's disaster has been felt all across the world. Bryony English was a American citizen who used to live in Chico, but was teaching in Japan during the time of the crisis. She was finally able to make it home after what seemed like an eternity for her. It is always tragic to loose a life and much more tragic to have such devastation, but it is so grateful to have a loved one to hug.

Lily English (left) embraces her daughter Bryony English (center), as she returns home to family and friends, including Michelle Martin and son Walker Martin, 4 (right) at Chico Airport Friday , March 18, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Bryony was in Japan during the 8.9 earthquake and tsunami that hit last week.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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